Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Spain
Spain: Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) was 24.1% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Spain, 1977–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Spain is 24.1%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 7.4% on the previous year and down 50.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Spain peaked at 56.2% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 12.3%, in 1977.
Spain ranks 21st of 157 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 49 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Spain, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 12.3% | — |
| 1978 | 17.0% | +38.7% |
| 1979 | 21.2% | +24.3% |
| 1980 | 27.7% | +30.7% |
| 1981 | 33.9% | +22.4% |
| 1982 | 38.0% | +12.0% |
| 1983 | 40.5% | +6.6% |
| 1984 | 44.9% | +10.9% |
| 1985 | 45.6% | +1.7% |
| 1986 | 44.2% | -3.2% |
| 1987 | 38.4% | -13.0% |
| 1988 | 35.2% | -8.4% |
| 1989 | 27.5% | -21.8% |
| 1990 | 25.7% | -6.7% |
| 1991 | 25.2% | -1.7% |
| 1992 | 27.8% | +10.2% |
| 1993 | 38.9% | +39.8% |
| 1994 | 41.1% | +5.8% |
| 1995 | 36.4% | -11.6% |
| 1996 | 36.5% | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 33.6% | -7.8% |
| 1998 | 29.3% | -13.0% |
| 1999 | 22.9% | -21.7% |
| 2000 | 19.6% | -14.4% |
| 2001 | 16.4% | -16.4% |
| 2002 | 16.8% | +2.5% |
| 2003 | 19.2% | +13.9% |
| 2004 | 19.4% | +1.5% |
| 2005 | 16.7% | -14.0% |
| 2006 | 15.0% | -10.3% |
| 2007 | 15.2% | +1.5% |
| 2008 | 23.6% | +54.9% |
| 2009 | 39.1% | +65.6% |
| 2010 | 43.1% | +10.3% |
| 2011 | 48.2% | +11.8% |
| 2012 | 54.1% | +12.4% |
| 2013 | 56.2% | +3.9% |
| 2014 | 53.4% | -5.0% |
| 2015 | 48.6% | -9.0% |
| 2016 | 44.0% | -9.5% |
| 2017 | 39.5% | -10.2% |
| 2018 | 35.2% | -10.9% |
| 2019 | 30.9% | -12.3% |
| 2020 | 37.1% | +19.9% |
| 2021 | 34.0% | -8.3% |
| 2022 | 28.7% | -15.7% |
| 2023 | 28.8% | +0.6% |
| 2024 | 26.0% | -9.6% |
| 2025 | 24.1% | -7.4% |
Spain compared with similar countries
- Spain's 24.1% is above the median for high income countries, which is 14.2%, 1.7× the median. (68 countries reporting)
- Spain's 24.1% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 15.3%, 1.6× the median. (51 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 16.8% | 12.3% | 21.2% | 3 |
| 1980s | 37.6% | 27.5% | 45.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 31.7% | 22.9% | 41.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.1% | 15.0% | 39.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 45.3% | 30.9% | 56.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 29.8% | 24.1% | 37.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Spain
More work & labour data for Spain
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.527 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.5576 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.4982 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -2.05 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate -0.1207 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 39,073 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 5,322 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 17,076 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 16,051 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 33,128 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Spain?
- Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Spain was 24.1% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Spain?
- The highest recorded value was 56.2% in 2013.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Spain?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.3% in 1977.
- How does Spain rank for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24)?
- Spain ranks 21st out of 157 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Spain?
- Over the last ten years it is down 50.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Spain data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.